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How to Have an Elegant Halloween Wedding

Clare Spencer
Oct 9, 2018
4 min read

There are two types of people in this world: those who like Halloween and those who LIKE Halloween. For some of us, we take Halloween very, very seriously. If we could have we would have had our wedding on or around that wonderful holiday. But just because we couldn’t, doesn’t mean you can’t.

Photo from: www.bridebox.com

There’s more to Halloween than just horror, candy and costumes. There is something mysterious, whimsical and even a bit romantic to All Hallow’s Eve. Every bride wants her wedding day to be enjoyable for her guests but not at the expense of elegance. A Halloween wedding can quickly and easily turn tacky if you take this theme completely literally. However, there is a way to use Halloween as inspiration for a dark, cheerfully unique, yet classy affair.

1. WHAT TO WEAR? While you could allow your guests to dress in costume that could turn distasteful real fast. Instead, have your guests dress somewhere on the scale from semi-formal to formal attire and encourage them to bring and wear ornate masquerade masks. Masquerades are the grown-up version of a costume party. As for you, the bride, you could incorporate a bit of Halloween fun with an orange or deep purple sash. Or, take a more eerie and elegant approach with black Chantilly lace over ivory for your gown. Or, keep everything classic: ivory gown, traditional veil, pearls, but then step out of the box with funky, fun shoes. Check out https://www.irregularchoice.com/us/catalogsearch/result/?q=halloween

Now how about your groom? For some reason Victorian fashion is classy and yet oddly creepy at the same time. You could bring a little historic twist to your big day. Nothing says ‘old-timey undertaker’, I mean groom, quite like coat tails. It’s true that look is not everyone’s cup of tea, so to keep things in the current day, my next suggestion includes traditional tux or suit, with one or two slight changes. These changes could be an amusing tie or bowtie, a vibrant orange or dark purple vest, or everything stays standard, except for the boutonnieres. Deep red and black calla lilies, black feathers, tiny skull hands, spiders…be creative.

Photo from: http://happywedd.com/wedding_theme/60-original-masquerade-wedding-ideas.html

'Zander' by Sottero & Midgley

Photo from: https://www.etsy.com/market/gothic_boutonniere

2. HOW TO DECORATE? Think back to any horror or romantic film. When a couple wants to be romantic, they light candles. When a coven of witches get together to do whatever it is they do, they light candles. Candles bridge that gap between horror and romance. In simple terms, just fill your venue with candles. Candles in lavish black crystal chandeliers and candelabras, candles floating in water, the flickering flame reflecting off the glass and water. Blacked out wine bottles become candle holders, with dripping wax falling over the side. Spooky, right? You know what else is cinematically terrifying? Bare branches. The thin, scraggly limbs twist and turn like decrepit bones. But by paring branches with soft moss and vines it balances out the dark by creating an imaginative, light hearted woodland adventure. Perched in the branches and the vines could be little figurines of black birds - ravens and crows. The phrase “Until death do us part” in a cute way around the venue: the quote printed on little coffins, or tombstones with smiling, loving skeleton couples. Gold goblets and skulls surrounded by scattered jewels and gems, are a medieval concept for a centerpiece. Just think dramatic, like Kat Von D’s wedding: https://www.instagram.com/p/BjqF9Z8HCck/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Photo from: http://bridalcouch.com/9-elegantly-spooky-halloween-wedding-ideas/

Photo from: https://www.candycakeweddings.com/blogs/wedding-fashion/9844190-sleepy-hollow-halloween-wedding

Photo from: http://de.weddbook.com/media/2263275/custom-ring-bearer-pillow-box-til-death-do-us-part-coffin-item-number-140244

3. APPROPRIATE WEDDING COLORS? Black. It’s classic, it’s elegant, it’s Halloween. Sadly, you can’t do everything black or can you? Personally, yes, why not, but aesthetically a bit of variation and contrast might be called for. So here are some Fall/Halloween appropriate colors that would pair nicely with black; gold, eggplant, deep blood red (not bright ruby red), pumpkin orange. Deep, rich colors is the thought process.

4. YOU HAVE TO CARRY SOMETHING? All you need is black forest calla lilies, dahlias and black tinted roses. For a surprising pop of color throw some orange or bright red roses, or some cute rose-sized pumpkins either in ivory, orange or glitter. Or, if you want to keep things dark, incorporate deep purple roses and tulips. Get creative with vintage broaches, black or dark colored wispy feathers, and ivory or deep colored lace.

Photo from: http://happywedd.com/accessories/bouquets/60-halloween-wedding-bouquets-to-get-inspired.html

Photo from: https://www.weddingomania.com/34-halloween-wedding-bouquets-with-dark-romance-touches/pictures/16424/

Photo from: http://bernardosflowers.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-wedding-bouquet.html

5. DESSERT, ANYONE? It shouldn’t have to be said, but skeleton bride and groom on top of the wedding cake. Cheesy, but cheesy can be cute. If a little graveyard scene is too literal for your taste, you could do dark roses cascading down the cake or have alternating cake layers covered in edible lace. Stick to fall flavors for cake and frosting; check out our blog ‘Your Perfect Fall Wedding’ for cake flavor ideas. http://www.mimisbridalboutique.com/single-post/2018/08/31/Your-Perfect-Fall-Wedding Classic cake covered in rich colored mirror glaze. And please offer your guests a ‘poisoned apple’. In other words, blood red candy-coated apples covered in different toppings. Yummy and fun!